We have over 1 1/2 feet of snow. But that doesn’t stop the gardening at our place. Plants are still growing in the greenhouse. So follow me as we take a glimpse of our winter wonderland outside and what’s growing in the greenhouse.
Our garden house built into the hillside sits just below our log home. It is more then just a greenhouse we also have complete guest living area in it as well as a sauna. For more all about our greenhouse visit my posts Building Dreams The Garden House Part 1 and Building Dreams the Garden House Part 2 where you can see us building the garden house in stages and a better look inside.
I had moved all my container tomatoes and most my flowers into the green house in late October. Here in November with snow outside and temperatures as low as –20 Celsius or 5 Fahrenheit the plants are thriving. I also transplanted some lettuce that has already bolted.
Nasturtiums peeking out the window at the snow outside.
On this particular day the sun was shining, heating the greenhouse to a warm tropical climate. Our other source of heat is a wood stove that has to be lit if the sun doesn’t come out during the day and nights are expected to go below 15 degrees or below –10 Celsius. This day I was working in a tank top. Bathed in the sunlight tomatoes are also enjoying days like this and continue to turn red.
More flowers are still blooming.
My little winter get away place. Where the garden still grows.
Outside my garden is blanketed with snow. It came so early this year that many of our fruit and ornamental trees still have their leaves on.
But hidden under this blanket of snow along with another layer of cloth lies the last of my lettuce. I was able to harvest enough for another 5 or 6 more salads. I still have some Kale undercover in a couple places left in the garden for fresh winter greens.
But when the sun is out this is really where I love to be. Outside in our winter wonderland.
We have no proper snow plough this winter, it got broke last winter so it is done towing a V wood plough with our 4X4 truck, going down our driveway it went wacky the 1st run going back and forth. How we have gone back in time. Here also is a photo from over 20 years ago with the same V wood plough loaded with friends and their kids to help add weight after a heavy snow fall. Those were the days when keeping the driveway cleared was a fun thing to do. There was no electricity, running water, TV or internet. I use to be so adventurous back in the first years we leaved here. We also have one of the best sledding runs on our driveway as you can see. But with my back my sledding days are over.
We still have our neighbour's cows here which hubby goes down and feeds in the morning and I go down and feed in the evening. I really enjoy the time out and watching them munch on the hay. They will be picked up soon.
While out this sunny day I was trying to find a little texture on something and found this lovely aspen tree and realized there was even a glimpse of the house in the background.
Well here I am with my snow pusher clearing all our trails to all the buildings around the house. For anyone with back problems get on of these. It requires no lifting of the snow. I do about 200 feet of walking paths and clear parking for 2 cars. It takes about 1 hour if less then 5 inches. About 2 hours if we get a bigger dump. I always start the trails extra wide so later when the snow gets real deep I don’t have high narrow sides.
Well I did finally see the specialist about my back. I do have a partially slipped disc. As I haven’t pushed myself doing to much for almost a year now and I haven’t had any problems. But as I would like to get back into shape again he recommended I do yoga 5 times a week and later start doing exercises on one of those big balls to strengthen my core area. I am soooo out of shape from being afraid to do anything till I saw the specialist. At least now I know what exercises I can do to help my back and not hurt it. I found on You Tube Yoga with Esther Ekhart who has many yoga videos to follow with. Right now I am doing Beginning Yoga part 1 and part 2 of a 5 part series. Perfect for a slow start and getting myself limbered back up again. Finding the time to squeeze that in isn’t always easy. Of course I will always have to be careful and not over due or lift heavy stuff anymore. So even though the snow is here my days are filled and now hubby is on the computer more every evening. We won’t be heading south to the desert at the Salton Sea in California till almost February so I still have lots of winter here to experience ahead of me.
May all your experiences in life be varied and something new to learn and have a
Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night…
Whatever it is to you.
Photos and Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie
